The King and the Kindergarten Teacher (The Rebel Royals 1)

“If you just tell him it’s Esme. Esmeralda Pickett.”

The man did not move. But the door did open. Inside, Esme caught a glimpse of Leo. He held an old fashion corded phone to his ear with his shoulder. With one hand, he flipped through documents. With the other hand, he pinched the bridge of his nose.

He looked stressed and tense and unhappy. Esme took a step toward him, preparing to cross the threshold and get this rescue party started. Unfortunately, one of the bad guys blocked her way.

“Can I help you, Miss Pickett?”

Esme looked up at the imposing, immovable figure of Giles. His nose was pinched even more than normal, his gaze as sharp as glass.

“Giles, can I talk to Leo for just one second?”

“His majesty, King Leonidas,” Giles emphasized each of Leo’s titles, “is busy with matters of state at the moment.”

Esme looked at the gap between Giles and the guard. She was thin enough to slip through them. As though they anticipated her next move, they closed the distance.

She wanted to stamp her foot. She wanted to shout to get Leo’s attention. But she didn’t. She knew that would show the true shade of her blue collared upbringing.

Giles took her by the arm and led her away from the door as it closed. “You might be a guest of the prince, but do not wear out our hospitality, Miss Pickett.”

“What do you have against him being happy, Giles?”

“People’s lives and livelihoods are at stake while you’re caught in a world of make believe.”

“He would choose to be with me if he had the chance.”

“He had the chance. He could abdicate the throne. He didn’t. Because he takes his very real duties seriously. Play time is over.”

Giles showed her to a back door that led to the front of the castle. “Are you kicking me out?”

“I wish it were within my power. But as I said, you’re a guest of the prince. However, you are hereby banned from the east wing of this castle. Trust me, it’s for your own good. You don’t want to embarrass yourself any further. Duty trumps everything with royalty. That’s the job. You’d do well to learn that lesson.”

But Esme was a teacher and not a student. She knew that particular instruction was the wrong answer. She walked through the gardens plotting her next attack on the beasts that guarded her fair king.

It would appear she wouldn’t have to wait long. From a side door, she saw Leo emerge. He was surrounded by a number of other distinguished men, security, and Giles. Before Esme could decide the best way to get his attention, he ducked into the car and was gone.

She needed a way into the city. She couldn’t ask Alex as he and Jan were preparing for the pie competition. Her salvation arrived in the form of a tour bus.

Camera toting and map unfolding tourists clamored off the bus for a look at the castle. Esme hopped on and waited for the bus to take her into town, certain that that was where Leo had gone. Unfortunately, twenty minutes later, she discovered that the tour bus wasn’t headed to town. It was headed to the docks. Her rescue mission was thwarted once again.

But she wasn’t done. She would not let him make a choice that would lead to unhappiness. She loved Leo too much for that.

Yes, that’s what the thing was. It was a full blown case of love. It had taken root when she’d fallen onto his chest as he’d rescued her from a dragon truck. It had begun to grow when they’d battled flour fairies in a hotel suite kitchen. It had blossomed last night when his lips had met hers.

She was in love,

and she was not giving up. She just had to get back to the castle and plot her next move. She had time as the tour bus wouldn’t head back to the castle for another twenty minutes.

Esme took the time to walk along the pier. The waters around the island nation were pristine, which she found fascinating since there was oil in the depths. But Cordoba drilled responsibly. Of course, they did. Leo was their king, and he’d never let anyone get hurt on his watch.

She looked out at the most magnificent yacht she’d ever seen. It was gleaming white with gold trim, something fit for a king. It probably belonged to Leo.

Coming down the pier of the docked yacht was a woman who was as equally glamorous as the boat behind her. From her tailored skirt to her designer heels and the jewels around her neck which sparkled in the sunlight, she looked expensive.

She was also looking down at her phone and not up. She didn’t see the trolley cart that had come loose and was headed her way on a slow stroll. Esme may have failed her first few tasks this morning, but she sprang into action once more.

The trolley crashed into the water just as Esme reached the woman and pulled her to the side. The woman looked from Esme’s hand on her arm to the drops of water on the pier that had splashed up from the drowned cart.

“You just saved my life,” said the woman.